Top Ten U-22 Footballers (Soccer Players) of 2016

The Top Ten

He had a superb first half and scored 12 goals in Ligue 1 for Stade Rennes at just 19 years old. He then transferred to Dortmund and has ripped the Bundesliga apart. Future superstar for sure. - Devy

2Gianluigi Donnarumma

He's done brilliantly for a struggling AC Milan side, putting in consistently good performances along with an international call up to Italy. Did I mention he's only 17? - Devy

3Dele Alli

He had a stunning season for Spurs in their 3rd place finish last season, with him putting in goals and assisting teammates left and right. His start to the 2016/17 season was a little slower but still solid. In his final 3 matches of the year, he scored 5 goals! He's put in one of the performances of the year already in 2017 with yet another brace against Top of the table Chelsea, but that will count for next year. - Devy

4Julian Brandt

He's definitely put in his most consistent year yet. We always knew he had talent, but never quite put in the consistency we saw of this year. He's quickly turning into the quick, skillful and immensely talented winger I thought he'd be with plenty of goals and assists in 2016. - Devy

5Joshua Kimmich

Kimmich has blown up in 2016, with consistent brilliant performances along with plenty of goals and assists along the way. He's been a superb successor to Phillip Lahm and I'm sure he's got many more years to go at Bayern Munich - Devy

6Renato Sanches

Having started his first game for Benfica in November 2015, the young Portuguese never looked back from there. He put in some superb performances in the Champions League and Portuguese Premier League which attracted interest from Bayern, Manchester United, and many other European giants. Ultimately, he chose Bayern. After a superb Euros in which he was named the young player of the tournament and had a goal in the Quarter-final against Poland, he went to Bayern. While he hasn't quite nailed down a starter spot for the german giants, there's no doubt he's got a great and long future ahead of him. - Devy

7Jose Maria Gimenez

The Atletico Madrid defender yet again formed a brick wall at the back with fellow Uruguayan Diego Godin, and has locked in a place in that backline at just 21. After making it to the UCL final though, the rest of the year was a bit unspectacular. Atletico ended the year in 6th and Uruguay also made an embarrassing group stage exit from Copa America Centenario. But otherwise, he still has a great future in front of him. - Devy

8Julian Weigl

Julian Weigl transferred to Borussia Dortmund for a small amount in Summer 2015, and ever since has locked his place in the starting spot of a very solid midfield with Dortmund. He's a solid passer, and a good overall player for them, and definitely has a future with the side. - Devy

9Marcus Rashford

On one February Thursday in Manchester, Anthony Martial pulled up injured in warm ups before the game. The rest was history. After his hat trick against Danish side Midtjjyland, he scored a brace in a shock win over Arsenal just 3 days later. Not to mention, he scored in his England debut, he helped United to win the FA cup, and scored the winner in a Manchester Derby at the Etihad. The reason he isn't higher on this list is because he's been frozen out of the side by Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently, but still, this is a year young Marcus will never forget. - Devy

10Kelechi Iheanacho

After bursting onto the scene in the early 2015/16 campaign, he enjoyed a solid rest of the season. Other than that, He's enjoyed good success under Pep Guardiola with 4 assists and a Manchester Derby winner as well. - Devy